The character in a duel. Nineteenth century engraving for Gautier's novel. Credit: Public domain / Wikimedia Commons She was an opera star, but she also showcased her fencing skills, fell in love with ...

Forget the plot. You’re there for the melodies and the voices. Bellini’s “I Puritani,” presented for the first time in Seattle, is not exactly a masterpiece of theatrical coherence, with its ...